Rahane a born leader: Chappell

New Delhi, January 3

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell was not surprised on seeing Ajinkya Rahane captain India “flawlessly” to a series-levelling triumph against Australia in the Melbourne Test as he feels the Mumbaikar is a “born leader”.

Under Rahane, India made a remarkable comeback in Melbourne after their humiliating loss in the first Test in Adelaide. Rahane is filling in for regular skipper Virat Kohli, who is on paternity leave.

“It was no surprise that Ajinkya Rahane captained India flawlessly at the MCG. Anyone who saw him in charge in Dharamsala in 2017 would have recognised a man born to lead cricket teams,” Chappell wrote in his syndicated column. In Dharamsala, India had beaten Australia by eight wickets in the fourth Test to wrap up the series 2-1

“The moment that caught my attention in the Dharamsala match was the time Rahane called on debutant left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav when David Warner and Steve Smith were involved in a century partnership. ‘This is a brave move’ I thought, and it turned out to be a very smart one,” Chappell recalled.

Yadav quickly claimed the wicket of Warner, and that prompted a five-wicket slide for Australia.

“However, there’s much more to his leadership than just those two important qualities. He is calm when things could easily get out of hand,” added Chappell. — PTI